Beach reinforcement set for Katwijk, Netherlands

The Netherlands’ Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat) has confirmed that beach nourishment and reinforcement works will commence in September 2022 at Katwijk in the province of South Holland.

The nourishment works will help address the problem of erosion caused by winds, waves, and currents. This will result in the improved ability of the beach to provide protection for residents living near the coast.

A total of 600,000 cubic metres of sand will be used for reinforcement. Dredgers will extract the sand from the North Sea some 14 kilometres off the coast of Katwijk.

Recreational activities will still be permitted in specified areas of the beach while the nourishment works are ongoing.

The beach nourishment works at Katwijk are undertaken every few years. The last nourishment project in 2019 added an estimated 400,000 cubic metres of sand.